NCLEX PN Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies FAQs
Q1: What is the nurse’s role in administering medications safely?
The nurse plays a critical role in ensuring medication safety by adhering to the five rights of medication administration: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. This process minimizes errors and promotes positive patient outcomes.
In preparation for the NCLEX PN exam, nurses must master this knowledge and apply it in clinical settings. Nurses also provide essential patient education—explaining the medication’s purpose, potential side effects, and proper administration instructions. For example, they might advise patients to take certain medications with food or avoid alcohol to prevent interactions.
Proper technique is essential: whether administering oral, intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous medications, nurses must use correct procedures and follow infection control protocols, such as using sterile equipment when needed.
Furthermore, nurses closely monitor for adverse effects or allergic reactions, including mild symptoms like nausea or severe events such as anaphylaxis. Accurate documentation is critical to track medications given, doses, times, and patient responses.
Q2: What are the common routes of medication administration, and how do nurses ensure their proper use?
Medications are commonly administered through:
- Oral route: Nurses verify the patient’s ability to swallow and ensure medications aren’t contraindicated with conditions like nausea. Monitoring for drug interactions that affect absorption is key.
- Intravenous (IV) route: Nurses ensure IV catheter placement is correct and monitor for infiltration or phlebitis. They also verify medication compatibility with IV fluids.
- Intramuscular (IM) route: Selection of appropriate muscle site (like deltoid or vastus lateralis), needle size, and injection angle are essential. Patient relaxation helps reduce discomfort.
- Subcutaneous (SQ) route: Nurses administer injections just under the skin at proper angles, rotating sites to prevent irritation.
- Topical/transdermal routes: Application sites must be clean and dry, with patches rotated to avoid skin damage.
Understanding these routes and techniques is frequently tested in NCLEX PN practice questions and lpn exam practice questions. Reviewing sample NCLEX PN questions on these topics can boost confidence for the lpn test.
Q3: How do nurses manage patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN)?
Parenteral nutrition provides nutrients intravenously when the gastrointestinal tract cannot be used. Nurses must assess the patient’s nutritional needs and verify the PN formula’s suitability.
Careful IV site management is crucial to prevent infections or complications such as infiltration or thrombosis. Nurses monitor vital signs and lab values—especially electrolytes and blood glucose—to detect imbalances or hyperglycemia early.
Adjusting infusion rates based on patient tolerance and lab results is part of the nurse’s role. Additionally, patient and family education on PN’s purpose, complications, and importance of monitoring is essential.
NCLEX practice exams and lpn practice test questions focus on PN management due to its complexity and risk profile.
Learn more from the Infusion Nurses Society’s Parenteral Nutrition Guidelines.
Q4: What are the key nursing interventions for patients receiving medication via an IV line?
IV medication administration requires vigilance to avoid complications like infiltration, phlebitis, or infection.
Nurses ensure the IV line is patent, properly placed, and secure. They verify medication orders carefully—including dose, drug compatibility, and infusion rates—prior to administration.
During infusion, nurses monitor the patient’s vital signs and watch for adverse reactions, particularly during the first dose of a new medication.
Maintaining IV line patency involves flushing with saline before and after medication delivery to prevent clotting.
Being prepared for emergencies—such as anaphylaxis or air embolism—is critical, with emergency equipment readily available.
NCLEX PN practice exam questions often test knowledge of IV medication safety protocols.
Q5: How do nurses manage patients receiving opioid analgesics to prevent complications like respiratory depression?
Opioids require careful assessment and monitoring due to risks of sedation and respiratory depression.
Before administration, nurses assess pain intensity using appropriate scales and review patient history for risk factors like substance abuse or respiratory issues.
Close monitoring of respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and level of consciousness—especially within the first hour—is mandatory.
Nurses also implement non-opioid pain management techniques to reduce opioid reliance.
Patient education covers side effects such as constipation and sedation, safe medication use, adherence to prescribed schedules, and overdose risks.
Routine monitoring for side effects and timely interventions improve patient comfort and safety.
Studying lpn sample test questions on opioid management helps prepare for real-world scenarios.
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